Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

Alzheimers disease Name: Institution: Date:

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

I have been a therapist for 17 years. I am currently treating a patient who has been diagnosed. James White has been living with Alzheimers diseasefor two. He was diagnosed at the age of 65. Alzheimers is an irreversible, brain disease that slowly affects and destroys memory and thinking skills. It eventually progresses destroying the ability to carry out the basic tasks. The cause of the disease remains a mystery.It is clear that the disease develops because of complex processes in the brain over a period. The causes can be environmental, genetic or influenced by lifestyle choices. The influence of these factors increases or decreases depending on an individual. (Tanzi, 2004) This is because of the different genetic makeup and lifestyles.Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE 4)has been linked to late-onset Alzheimers. People with APOE 4 seem to have high chances of getting the disease. However, possessing the gene does not necessarily mean a person will automatically develop Alzheimers disease. People without the APOE 4 can also develop Alzheimers disease. Lifestyle factors play a significant role in influencing a persons risk of developing the disease. Risk factors such as ageing and family history can predispose someone to the risk of getting Alzheimers disease (Tanzi, 2004). There has also been a strong link between heart disease and Alzheimers. Those free of cardiovascular complications are at lower risk of developing the disease. Diagnosing dementia is often difficult. A definite diagnosis can only be done after death. Brain biopsy can also be used for diagnosis but on extremely rare occasions. It takes about six to twelve months before a diagnosis can be made. The patient I

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE amcurrently treating underwent a five steps diagnostic procedure for seven months before the final diagnosis.Step one: involved the assessment of the patientby a General Practitioner. Background checks, physical examinations and mental testsare performed. Step two: involves a referral to a specialist for further consultation.Step three: assessment.Involves; background tests, physical examinations, memory assessment and scanning.Stepfour: this is the stage where the patient finally gets their diagnosis. Step five: involves regular check-ups with the general practitioner (Yvonne, 2011). As the disease progresses, changes in the brain affect physical functions affecting swallowing, bowel movement, balance and bladder control. These effects can increase additional health complications. It makes the patient vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections or injuries from falling (Shankle, 2004).The patient I am treating is still in the early stages of the disease. So far, he has only experienced memory lapses, withdrawal, agitation and isolated cases of spatial disorientation. Alzheimers disease has no medication or any other form of treatment that has been shown to cure, delay or prevent it. Its treatment takes a different aspect other than medication alone. Therapists and caregivers focus on helping the patient maintain an active mental function and managing physical and behavioral symptoms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manage Alzheimers have approved several drugs. TheyincludeDonepezil, RivastigmineGalantamineandMemantine. The patient I am treating has a prescription of rivastigmine from his neurologist. These drugs work by regulating neurotransmitters and may help maintain active thinking, retain memory,

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE enhance speaking skills, and help reduce certain behavioral problems. The drugs do not change the underlying process of the disease (Tanzi, 2004). There are ongoing clinical trials and research where scientist are looking for possible interventions such as immunization, physical activities, cognitive training, antioxidants and effect of cardiovascular treatment in order to stop or delay the onset of Alzheimers disease (Yvonne, 2011). One of the most basic concerns for an Alzheimers patient is the safety risks.As the disease progresses the patient will expose themself to a lot of safety hazard. To avoid this, stringent measures have to be undertaken.These include childproof the house, improve the lighting, repairing locks and securing the windows. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. After the onset of the symptoms, the average life expectancy is about 8 to 10 years. My patient has been given a life expectancy period of about 9 years by his neurologist. There have been exceptional cases where the patients have lived for up to 20 years after the onset of the first signs. The life expectancy of an Alzheimers patients varies and dependson certain factors such as the patient's age at the onset of the symptoms and medical complications.Patients with multiple medical complications tend to die sooner in comparison to those patients without any physical problems. Alzheimer's patients often die of a medical complication caused by diseases such as the flu or pneumonia. Alzheimers is a fatal disease. Even without these complications, a patient eventuallydies when the disease cause all the bodily systems to fail (Fisher, 2004). Alzheimers disease occurs in three stages, early-stage, middle-stage and endstage Alzheimers. Early-stage Alzheimers is characterized by short-term loss of

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE memory, groping of words, temporary spatial disorientation, and small errors of judgment as shown by my patient. At this stage, the patient can still keep up with most activities. Middle-stage Alzheimers. Its onset is about two to three years after the first symptom. Its symptoms include memory lapses, language difficulties, loss of cognitive functions onset of behavioral and psychiatric symptoms and it becomes increasingly unable for the patient to follow a conversation and understand simple instructions. There is loss of perpetual processing and the patient begins to lose their basic sense of identity (Shankle, 2004). End-stage Alzheimers. This is marked by neuro-musculoskeletal and motor performance. The patient loses the ability to walk and eventually unable to sit up.They lose bladder and bowel movement control. The disease eventually affect the patient's brain stem. Basic processes like digestion, respiration, and excretion ceases. The patient stops eating and sleeps most of the time. Hands and feet start to feel cold, breathing becomes constraint and shallow, unresponsiveness sets in and eventually the patient simply stops breathing (Shankle, 2004). Treatment of Alzheimers patients is a challenge. Most patients usually are stressed after the diagnosis. The feeling of despair and having no control over ones own body and general health is scary and patients end up getting depressed.Some of the problems I have encountered with the patient include: agitation, wandering, aggression, suspicion, stress, and withdrawal.There have also been cases of poor judgment, disorientation, and memory lapses. My two long-term goals are to do research and come up with a therapeutic routine that is non-invasive that enhances the life of the patients while slowing down the

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE progression of Alzheimers disease. I also want to stay a therapist and use my experiences to better the life of the patients. My short-term goals are to keep accessing the patient, providing support and care, ensure they follow all the routines of therapy and actively engage them in mental activities that stimulate their brain. Administering of drugs to Alzheimers patients is done so as to alleviate accompanying symptoms, such as agitation, depression, restlessness, suspicion sleep disorders, and aggressive behavior, or to improve retentiveness and cognitive function and retentiveness. These drugs however do nothing in delaying or stopping the advancement of the disease. This is where non-chemical treatment and therapy comes in. It encompasses training regimes like cognitive training, cognitive stimulation, training regimes, education, and use of resources. Cognitive training has been show to improve the rate of retentiveness in Alzheimers patients.Cognitive stimulation when combined with physical exercise has been shown to improve cognition, the mood of the patient, daily living skills mood and overall reduction in the behavior problems. Training regimes and exercise help the patient to be strong physically. Engaging in exercises is also therapeutic and helps to alleviate stress. These non-chemical treatments are relatively cheap, practical, effective and easy to implement in most community settings. They have the potential to improve the well-being of a patient. They are more exciting than regular popping of pills most patients generally enjoy them. Unlike drugs, they have virtually no of side effects. I take my patient through physical exercises every day. The exercises begin with simple body flexing workouts to prepare the body and the mind for the intense therapy. After the warm up, I subject the patient to mental exercises whose aim is to exercise the

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE brain muscles and keep the brain working in order. The main objective is to keep the brain functioning properly for the longest time possible. Thorough physical exercises follow where we work on keeping the body movement muscles working, as they should. This gives the patient's body a longer time before their condition progresses to stage three. The benefits of these non-chemical regiments have been shown to be independent of the patient taking any anti-Alzheimer's drugs. Further studies have indicated that, these non-pharmacological therapies are more effective when they are combined with the current drugs that are used to treat symptoms that occur because of the disease. Instead of administering painkillers, cold packs can be used to treat pains resulting from sprains and other injuries that do not require visiting the emergency room. This is where therapy kicks in in place of medicine. I do not administer any medication to my patient. I use therapeutic modes that would replace medicine where possible.

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE References Fisher, A. (January 01, 2007). Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease: Progress and newperspectives: 8th International conference AD/PD, 2007. Shankle, W. R., & Amen, D. G. (2004).Preventing Alzheimer's: Prevent, detect, diagnose, treat, and even halt Alzheimer's disease and other causes of memory loss.New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Tanzi, R. E., & Parson, A. B. (2000).Decoding darkness: The search for the genetic causes of Alzheimer's disease. Cambridge, Mass: Perseus Publ. Yvonne M. (2011). Diagnosis and assessment of Alzheimers disease. Imperial College Healthcare Trust